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    Kim Kardashian Said Her Process For Accepting Paid Instagram Posts Has Changed Now She's Working In Prison Reform

    "This ... can help free them with simple legal fees that they just can’t afford."

    Ellie Woodward
    by Ellie Woodward

    BuzzFeed Staff

    The Kardashian/Jenners have some of the biggest followings on social media, with a huge 632 million followers between them on Instagram alone.

    And influencers on that scale can demand a wild amount of money for sponsored posts. In fact, Kim Kardashian West and Kylie Jenner are able to charge $1 million per post and have done many times in the past.

    Instagram: @kimkardashian, Instagram: @kyliejenner

    It's actually something the family have been criticised for by fans and activists alike. Jameela Jamil, for example, has called them out on multiple occasions for cashing in on the promotion of diet products.

    Admedia, Inc / SIPA USA/PA Images

    After launching her campaign for body positivity last year, Jameela waged war on the Kardashians for endorsing weight-loss products, labelling them “terrible and toxic influences on young women”. Jameela went on to describe Kim as an “agent for patriarchy”, accusing her of having “body or facial dysmorphia”, and said she was “pouring hatred” into the world.

    In the past, Kim Kardashian has justified her sponsored posts by suggesting that most people in her position would accept the same opportunity for "easy work".

    Instagram: @kimkardashian

    Speaking to the New York Times, Kim said: "If there is work that is really easy that doesn't take away from our kids — that's, like, a huge priority — if someone was faced with the same job opportunities, I think they would maybe reconsider."

    "You're going to get backlash for almost everything," she added. "So long as you like it or believe in it, or it's worth it financially — whatever your decision may be — as long as you're OK with that."

    Well, Kim has now changed her stance, revealing that she mainly accepts paid Instagram work to counteract "overspending".

    However, she went on to say that selecting sponsored posts has become more "personal" now that she actually ploughs the money straight back into her prison reform work.

    Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty Images

    Ever since Kim helped free Alice Marie Johnson from prison in 2018, she's been working with lawyers and advocacy groups to help other people. As of May this year, she'd helped free 17 federal prisoners.

    She's also currently studying to become a lawyer with a focus on prison reform, by completing a four-year apprenticeship with a legal firm. She hopes to qualify in 2022.

    Kim explained that she'll accept sponsored posts even if they're a "little off-brand" in order to finance her legal work.

    "It's a little bit more personal for me," she explained. "If I have a paid post that comes in and I think, 'OK, well this can fund x amount of people that are behind bars, that can free them with simple legal fees that they just can't afford, then that would be worth it to me.' Even if the post might be a little off-brand for me."

    "I really weigh out different things now than I used to," Kim added.

    Kim went on to open up about her legal studies, revealing that she hopes to start a law firm one day, hiring formerly incarcerated people to work there.

    She added: "I love it and I just hope that one day I can start a firm that will help with prison reform. I would love to hire these men and women that are behind bars because they know the law better than most lawyers."

    You can read Kim Kardashian West's full interview here.